I have been a recreational sailor for many years, with a particular interest in small sailing craft; therefore much of the content of my 'blog' will be related to this subject.

Thursday, November 07, 2013

‘Minnow’ on her Trailer

Here’s a photo of ‘Minnow’ on her trailer, which is a
modified SB 730/2 ADJ built by De Graaff Trailers of Gracious Pond Road, Cobham,
Surrey, GU24 8HJ. Ideally, I would have liked to extend the tow bar, instead,
I had to shorten it for the trailer to fit in my garage. I have a feeling that when
launching and recovering ‘Minnow’, I shall have to have a length of rope
between the car and the trailer. Without a rope, I doubt I shall be able to
submerge the trailer sufficiently for the boat to float off or on. On the other
hand, because the trailer is a swing beam roller type, I may get away with it, without
the rear wheels of the car being too deep in the water. The winch can handle up
to 1,102 lbs; therefore I may be able to winch the boat from the water, or let
her into it by controlled use of the winch.

Besides taking photos of ‘Minnow’ on her trailer, I
fashioned a piece of wood to replace a rotten lath screwed to the upper edge of
the Perspex washboard. I’ll have to give it a few coats of varnish to bring out
the colouring, and to protect it from the elements.

Little things done here and
there can make an enormous difference to the appearance and feel of a boat, and
by doing them I derive satisfaction.

There is still a fair amount to do before I shall be satisfied with her.

She lacks the metal loops that retain the rig and the yuloh on her side decks. I have to fit an outboard bracket and I have to make a proper pin and socket for the yuloh, which also requires attention. A satisfactory solution has to be found for easy access to drinking water. I don't want to be balancing bottles on my knee while I pour water into the kettle. Wiring for the GPS units etc has to be done. I'm not completely sure that I have cured the leak problem. Her rigging has to be redone, and there are other small things requiring attention.

You could be right about completing Puffin by May, because you have thoroughly thought through the process of building her, and she is a quick-build boat. You have the materials, the tools and the workspace - once your polytunnel is erected.